How important it is to have good shepherds! (10 mins.)
Imagine for a moment a sheep. It is a defenseless animal, easily lost, and completely dependent on its shepherd for food, water, and protection from predators. Without a watchful shepherd, sheep simply cannot survive.
It is not surprising, then, that Jehovah frequently uses this illustration in the Bible to describe his relationship with his people. We are the sheep of his flock, and he uses shepherds to care for us.
This raises a crucial question: What difference does having good pastors make? The answer is simple: it can mean the difference between remaining spiritually strong and being exposed to danger.
In this talk we will analyze the contrast between the bad shepherds of ancient Judah and the good shepherds that Jehovah has provided for the Christian congregation today.
The shepherds of Judah neglected God's people (Jer 23:2; Eze 34:2-5).
To appreciate the loving care we receive today, we must first understand the harm caused by the negligence of God's leaders in ancient times.
In the days of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Jehovah had entrusted the care of his people to kings, princes, and religious leaders. They were supposed to protect the flock, but they failed completely.
LET'S READ JEREMIAH 23:2
“For this is what Jehovah, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who shepherd my people: ‘You scattered my sheep; you did not stop scattering them and you did not take care of them.’ ‘Therefore I will punish you for your evil deeds,’ declares Jehovah.”
These words show how much Jehovah was pained by what was happening. Instead of gathering the sheep and protecting them, those men had scattered them.
Ezekiel expands on this picture even further in Ezekiel 34:2-5. There he explains that these shepherds were only thinking of themselves. They profited from the flock, but they did not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, or seek the lost. As a result, the people were left defenseless. Without spiritual guidance, they ended up scattered and suffering under the rule of other nations.
This part of the account teaches us a very important lesson. Jehovah views his servants as precious sheep. He is never indifferent when those with spiritual responsibilities neglect the flock. In fact, he promises to hold them accountable for the way they treated his people.
By their words and their bad example, false prophets encouraged people to do bad things (Jer 23:14, 15; w94 3/1 8 par. 4; it “Apostasy” par. 4).
However, the problem went far beyond simple negligence. The false prophets not only stopped doing good; they also did much harm through their teachings and their conduct.
LET'S READ JEREMIAH 23:14
“And I have seen horrible things among the prophets of Jerusalem. They commit adultery and live by lies; they support the wicked and do not repent of their wickedness. To me, they are all like Sodom, and its inhabitants are like Gomorrah.”
Let us consider this expression: “They support the wicked.” What does it mean? Instead of correcting those who were doing wrong, they made them feel comfortable in their sin. Instead of motivating them to repent, they gave them the impression that Jehovah saw no problem.
Their own example was also disastrous. They practiced adultery, lied, and led hypocritical lives. Thus, by their words and conduct, they were practically telling the people, “Don’t worry. Nothing bad is going to happen to you.” As a result, moral standards began to relax, and apostasy spread throughout the nation.
The Watchtower of March 1, 1994, explains that this resulted in a true spiritual poisoning. The book Insight on the Scriptures adds that these men promoted rebellion against Jehovah and led the people astray from pure worship.
This principle remains true today. When those who should be teaching the truth lower God’s standards or justify what is wrong, many people end up drifting away from Jehovah. That is why it is so valuable to have pastors who faithfully teach God’s Word and live in harmony with it.
Christian overseers shepherd God's flock with dedication and strive to be good examples (1Pe 5:2, 3).
How different the situation is within the Christian congregation! Jehovah promised that he would give his people shepherds after his own heart. That promise is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd, who has provided elders to care for the congregations. These men do not seek prestige, power, or financial gain. Their desire is to imitate the example of the Great Shepherd.
LET'S READ 1 PETER 5:2, 3
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, serving as overseers, not under compulsion, but willingly in the sight of God; not for dishonest gain, but eagerly; 3 not as masters of those who are God’s inheritance, but be examples to the flock.”
Notice that Jehovah not only tells them what to do, but also how to do it: They must serve willingly. They must do it enthusiastically, not seeking personal gain. And above all, they must be examples to the flock.
That is precisely what we see in our congregations. The elders dedicate many hours of their time to preparing meetings, making shepherding visits, attending to spiritual needs, organizing the preaching work, and offering encouragement when a brother or sister is going through difficulties. They do all of this without receiving a salary. They do it out of love for Jehovah and love for their brothers and sisters.
Furthermore, they strive to teach primarily by their example. We see them participating in the preaching work, supporting the meetings, caring for their families, and endeavoring to reflect the fruitage of the Spirit in their daily lives.
Of course, like all of us, they are imperfect. But when they offer us Bible-based counsel, we know that they do so because they want to protect us spiritually and draw us closer to Jehovah. That strengthens our trust and motivates us to cooperate with them.
Illustration
The image in our activity guide shows a religious leader in Judah buying an idol in a marketplace, while some Israelites look on. This image highlights the stark contrast between those religious leaders of Judah and Christian overseers today.
Conclusion
When comparing these two types of shepherds, the difference is enormous. The unfaithful leaders of Judah scattered the people, neglected them, and led them into apostasy. In contrast, Christian overseers strive to care for the flock with love, humility, and dedication, following the example of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we can ask ourselves: How do we show that we value these good pastors? We do so by cooperating with them, humbly accepting their Bible-based counsel, praying for them, and faithfully supporting the work they do.
By acting in this way, we not only show appreciation for the elders in the congregation. Above all, we demonstrate our gratitude to Jehovah, the Supreme Shepherd, and to Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd, who never cease to lovingly care for us. Truly, brothers and sisters, how important it is to have good shepherds!
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